THE HOUSE FINCH. 



( Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis. ) 



This active and pretty little bird is 

 an attractive feature of the landscape of 

 the western United States. It is a com- 

 mon bird throughout its range which 

 extends from Oregon southward into 

 Lower California and western Mexico. 

 Eastward its range extends to Colorado 

 and the western part of Texas. It is 

 one of the best known of the birds of 

 southern California, where it is often 

 called the California Finch or Linnet. 

 The brightly colored plumage of its head 

 has also given it the name Red-headed 

 Linnet. This bird is better known in 

 many localities by the names Burion and 

 Crimson-fronted Finch. 



The House Finch is not particular in 

 the selection of a site for its home and 

 will build ''anywhere, from the limb of 

 any tree to the side of a haystack or a 

 tin can on a porch." Neither is it par- 

 ticular in the choice of building materials 

 using those which are furnished by its 

 environment. Though the nests are 

 usually constructed with coarse grasses 

 or weeds and lined with soft fibers, hair 

 or fine roots, the bird may use straws, 

 strings, small roots, strips of bark fibers 

 and hair in the outer wall, and feathers 

 for the lining. It has been known to 

 preempt the unoccupied nests of other 

 birds, such as those of the oriole, the 

 cliff swallow and also woodpecker holes. 



Dr. J. G. Cooper states, in the 



"Omithology of California," that he has 

 found the nests "in trees, on logs and 

 rocks, inside a window snutter, in the 

 holes of walls, under tile or thatch roofs, 

 in haystacks and barns, in the interstices 

 between the sticks of a hawk's nest, and 

 in an old nest of an oriole." Dr. Coues 

 found that this Finch will occupy the 

 old nests of barn swallows, and "not in- 

 frequently would take possession by 

 force, after an animated contest, of a 

 nest just finished, making its disconsolate 

 owners, who had little chance against the 

 spirited interlopers, build another nest." 

 Its song is lively and varied and is 

 heard throughout the year wherever the 

 bird is a constant resident. When caged 

 they are called California Linnets, and 

 they seem to thrive in captivity through 

 the bright color of the head is said to 

 finally change to yellow. 



Though the House Finch feeds on the 

 seeds of the wild mustard and of other 

 wild herbaceous plants as well as on the 

 seeds of the cottonwood and other trees, 

 it is also very destructive to the seeds, 

 fruits and tender young plants of gar- 

 dens. As it enjoys the society of man 

 and seeks his protection, when abundant, 

 it is often very destructive in his culti- 

 vated grounds and gains only his enmity. 

 It is not surprising that this pretty bird 

 often becomes a nuisance when we realize 

 that it mav raise three broods in a season. 



MY THRUSHES. 



The south wind sleeps, the restless birds are still 



Save far away a single thrush 

 Bridges the earth and Heaven with 

 Its Angelus. 



Alas for Wordsworth with his nightingale, 



His lark at Heaven's gate winging; 

 How he would thrill ! bereft who never heard 

 My thrushes singing. 



— Nelly Hart Wood worth. 



50 



